at 9am. The conference is being organized by the Macedonian Press Agency and "Athens 2004", and the conference's works will take place in "Olympion" (Aristotelous Square) and on Saturday they will be held at "Sun Beach" (Agia Triada).

Celebrating ten years since its creation, the Macedonian Press Agency selected a double topic for the 7th Interbalkan Journalistic Conference, believing that the times we are living hold a double challenge for journalists and employees in the information

sector in Southeastern Europe. One is the challenge of the "technology-boom". The other is the challenge of the Olympics to be held in Athens in 2004. Both topics are in the framework set by the Macedonian Press Agency in the first conference in 1996: Ba lkan media can and must help develop substantial feelings of friendship, understanding, and the creation of a sense of security and the further enlargement of cooperation in Balkan countries.

Following the opening speeches and addresses, the conference's program consists of the following sessions: "Daily press in the Internet Era", with Directors and Editors-in-Chief of major Balkan newspapers, while the second will be titled "State news agen cies face the challenge of the digital era", with the General Directors of all agencies that are members of ABNA (Association of Balkan News Agencies). The conference's afternoon works will continue with the session on "The utilization of new technologies

by radio-television media" with Directors of various Balkan television networks as speakers. The first day's works will be completed with the session on "The challenge of the 2004 Olympics for the Media of Southeastern Europe", where speakers include mem bers of the Greek Olympic Medallists Association, Petros Galaktopoulos and Niki Bakoyanni, and Olympic gold-medallists Stefka Konstantinova, Naim Suleymanoglu, and Victor Mitrou.

The second day's works will begin with a session on "Balkan press in the service of pluralism and peace", and will be completed with the session on "The contribution of Balkan media in Interbalkan cooperation".

found in various regions of Central Macedonia, and according to officers in the Thessaloniki Police, it is most likely that international criminal networks channeled shipments of counterfeit bank notes into Greece.

The first counterfeit notes, those of 20 euro, were found approximately 20 days ago in Thessaloniki, while in the past two days, 50 and 100 euro bills were found and confiscated in Chalkidiki, Serres and Thessaloniki, an event causing the immediate mobil ization of the police authorities.

Two women from Yugoslavia were arrested in Thessaloniki's Pefkochori, and are being questioned by the police, facing the charge of trying to pay at a tourist boutique, with three counterfeit 50 euro bank notes.

Meanwhile, as announced by the Thessaloniki Police Direction, on May 22 an unknown party turned in a 100 euro note to an "Alpha Bank" branch in Evosmos, while two days earlier, three more 50 euro notes were found in a branch of the same bank in Serres.

As a senior officer of the Thessaloniki Police told the MPA, the counterfeit bank notes cannot be easily told apart from the real thing, and special tests had to be conducted to ascertain that they were counterfeit. It made quite an impression that the c ounterfeiters were able to print the relief lettering as well as the special safety tape, a fact that lead authorities to believe that they used latest technology equipment.

The Greek side reacted swiftly. National Defense General Staff Chief Giorgos Antonakopoulos, who is in Brussels, briefed the NATO headquarters, while a demarche will be made by the Greek ambassador to Ankara.

According to statements made last month by the ECB president, the economic recovery rate in the Euro-zone and the prospects concerning inflation remain uncertain and added that the basic interest rate is at the right level for the moment.

Based on "The Financial Times", the ECB is expected to keep its basic interest rate unchanged for one or two more months.

The statement was made by Mr. Hitiris when he was called to comment on Mr. Le Pen's interview with the Athens newspaper "Eleftherotipia".

Undersecretary of Press Tilemachos Hitiris stated that the Turkish ambassador to Athens will be called during the day, while the Greek ambassador to Ankara will visit the Turkish Foreign Ministry. National Defense General Staff Chief Mr. Antonakopoulos, who is Brussels, briefed the NATO headquarters on the Turkish provocation.

Finally, Mr. Hitiris was asked if the government is concerned over the tension in Rhodes and the Aegean combined with information coming from Turkish military sources over the likelihood of a strike on Cyprus. Mr. Hitiris responded that the government ta kes everything under serious consideration but there is no cause for concern.

Of the stocks trading today, 182 recorded gains and 121 had losses, while the value of 70 stocks remained unchanged.

Mr. Hitiris stated that the report itself is contradictory because while it mentions that Greece has not taken the measures that are necessary to deal with the problem, it also refers to the efforts made by the Greek government aimed at dealing with the problem characterizing them as positive.

The acting government spokesman also stated that the phenomenon of human trafficking will be combated by the Greek government regardless of any subjective and unfair classification made by the US State Department.

Mr. Kaklamanis referred to the geo-strategic position of Panama and the special importance of the Panama Canal. He also underlined the ties linking the two countries in the commercial sector and in the struggle for democracy, stressing that that those ti es are being strengthened by the dynamic presence of the Greek community in the country.

From his side, Panama's Parliament President briefed Mr. Kaklamanis on the course of his country as an independent democratic state that makes efforts for its economic modernization and the improvement of the living standards of its people.

Mr. Stefanopoulos thanked him for the honor they bestowed upon him and expressed his appreciation for La Trobe's work, specifically at the Center for Greek Studies and Reasearch (EKEME), which was founded and is developing thanks to the support of Greek businessman abroad, Zisis Dardalis. 40 university professors and researchers are occupied at the EKEME, and a Hellenism file has been created in the name of Mr. Dardalis, while Greek culture and literature is taught.

In his opening speech EKEME Director, Professor Anastasios Tamis, praised the help of Dean Osbourne and their benefactor, Mr. Dardalis, as well as the Australian Greek community, which is sensitive to educational issues, and supports the work taking plac e at the center.

He also stressed that the contribution of the Greek state, which morally and financially supports the work of the EKEME, which was lucky enough to have good partners who love their work. He also noted that the present Secretary General of Greeks Abroad, Mr. D. Dollis, was a founding member of the center.

The EKEME passed under the aegis of the President of the Republic K. Stefanopoulos in 1997.

The President's visit to the Republic of Victoria ends tonight, with the reception of Prime Minister Steve Bracks, in the Melbourne Parliament.

Tomorrow Mr. Stefanopoulos and the delegation accompanying him, will leave for the capital of Australia, Canberra, where he will have a series of meetings with the General Governor and the Federal Prime Minister of Australia, Dr. Peter John Hollingworth and John Howard, as well as representatives of the Greek community.

In statements to the Macedonian Press Agency, Mr. Magriotis pointed out that it was a constructive meeting, during which views on mutual interest issues were exchanged.

Mr. Magriotis informed the Greek MPs Abroad of the course of Greece's national issues, specifically the Cyprus issue and Greek-Turkish relations, as well as the progress of the 2004 Olympics and Greece's goals.

In that framework a discussion took place on the promotion of this great event and modern Greece in Melbourne, and Australia in general. The promotion is planned to be larger and broader than inside the usual Greek community borders. The President of the

Victoria Parliament discussed holding such an event in the Parliament. But the mobilization goal is mainly the organization of a body of Greek volunteers abroad for 2004.

It was agreed that during the world meeting of Greeks living abroad in Athens in July, that a new meeting will to take place on the continuation of this initiative.

In a joint press conference, they expressed satisfaction over the useful talks they had which confirmed the very friendly bilateral relations.

Prime Minister Howard expressed satisfaction over his imminent visit to Greece in early July. During his visit, he is scheduled to have talks among others on the signing of an interstate agreement on social security and judicial cooperation.

President Stephanopoulos pointed out that Australia is one of Greece's closest friends given the large number of Greek immigrants, who work for the prosperity of their new country making Greece proud of them.

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